Park parties have risen in popularity in recent months and are an excellent way to celebrate a birthday or milestone in a cost-effective and COVID-safe way. Most parks offer a range of facilities including BBQs, seating areas, amenities and loads of space to accommodate a guest list of almost any size. However, if you are planning a party in your local park, there’s a few things to take into consideration. For reliable party hire, Goulburn locals rely on Barlens. As a trusted choice for party hire since 1965, we understand what makes a good party, great. Here’s some of our tips to help you ensure your park party is a fun and memorable occasion.
Find Out If You Need to Book an Area in Your Park
Many local councils require you to book a designated area in a park in advance. The best parks and best locations within a park often get booked up ahead of time so make sure you reserve the space you want before sending out your invitations. If you don’t need to make a reservation, keep in mind that weekends at parks are busy so it’s likely you will need to get there early to secure your spot.
Consider the Comfort of Your Guests
While you might be able to secure a picnic table in your local park, this won’t be sufficient to seat everyone. Hiring a range of outdoor furniture will ensure your guests have a comfortable place to sit and relax in between mingling, it also gives them somewhere convenient to enjoy some party food. A few bar tables and some folding trestle tables along with some lightweight stools should provide enough comfort to your guests. You could even be a little creative and set up a long, low-lying table with cushions for extra seating or beautiful rattan chairs set amongst colourful picnic rugs – the options are endless.
Plan for the Weather
Whether it’s hot, cold, windy or rainy, the weather is something you just cannot control. However, hiring a marquee or tent is a great solution as it will give you a sheltered space where your guests can continue to party in the event that the weather is less than ideal. A marquee also provides a blank canvas for some extra decorations, and provides a protected space if you choose to include a DJ or small band. To really increase the comfort levels, you could incorporate portable heaters or fans to keep your guests warm or cool, depending on the day.
Choose the Right Decorations
Just because you are outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with decorations. Balloons and banners are great decorative options that are affordable and will usually stand up to a little wind as long as they are tied down appropriately. Don’t forget some matching paper plates, cups and a cute table cloth for your picnic table or folding bar table. For the ultimate sophisticated affair, why not style your party with hanging lanterns and string lights? These will create the perfect ambience for a late afternoon or early evening event.
Cater Appropriately
If you plan to DIY, park party food must be pre-made or easily cooked on a BBQ. Try to pick foods that will keep well in the sun and are bite sized so they can be eaten on the go. Ensure you have coolers with ice to keep your drinks and any food that needs to be refrigerated cold. To make your catering easy, ice buckets, drinkware and catering equipment can all be hired and the best part is most companies will deliver, set it up and pack it up for you!
Party Games and Entertainment
If you’re having kids at your party, a park is absolutely ideal as there’s typically playgrounds and grassy spaces for them to run and play. When the kids get tired of that, some party games are a great source of entertainment and the adults can join in too. Giant Jenga or Noughts and Crosses can be hired from most party hire suppliers and lead to hours of fun for people of all ages.
Don’t Forget to Clean Up
Make sure you pack some large garbage bags and clean up all of your rubbish at the end of the party. Parks are public spaces that everyone can enjoy so it’s essential that you take all of your rubbish away or utilise the bins provided.
If planned properly, park parties are the perfect way to celebrate any occasion. If you want to host your next birthday, anniversary or other special occasion in a local park, Barlens can help with all the party hire equipment you need for a successful event. Get in touch with our friendly team to find out more or browse our range online now.
